New Web Site!

Hi all,

I've got a new site for my lampwork jewelry. I've got a lot more pictures to upload and I'm making more jewelry for the site.

 Come check it out.  My site: http://www.cjlampwork.etsy.com/

LU,
Cheryl

Going Through The Emotions

I just came back from a business trip to Destin, Fla. It was beautiful, but bittersweet. It was the last place that Vernon and I shared a trip together a year ago. Last time, it was in February though. VJ couldn't believe work would send me away during Valentine's Day. So, he had to come with me....only solution. We had a good time, as we always did.

This time, walking on the beach without him was so hard. It brought back so many memories of fun things we shared there. I would take every opportunity to go out and walk along the shoreline, getting sand in between my toes and thinking happy thoughts. Sometimes I would sit for a while, cry, talk to him and wonder at God's immense creation and knowing that VJ was with Him.

God also graced me with a beautiful sunrise the morning I took some of Vernon's ashes out to scatter with successive waves; letting them take parts of him out every time they retreated. I prayed for God's healing peace, as only He can give, to help me get through this. I miss you so much Vernon.

ReCap

Wow, it's been a long time since i've posted. A lot has happened in the past 7 months since my dear husband Vernon passed (I don't know how I got here....parts of it was a blur). He was my rock. I've had a lot of adjustments to make in that time.

I miss him dearly. But I know where he's at. I got to walk with him to Heaven's door; but I had to stay behind. God's got more for me to do though....I'm still learning.

Spring time is just around the corner. Vernon loved to see everything greening up. Things would start bloomin and he would get anxious to get outside and putter around. Speaking of putterin'...another of his favorite things to look forward to was Golf! I'm going to miss our Sunday afternoon and anniversary golf games. I know he'd want me to keep doing the things we loved.

So, I've been putterin around here lately...with my latest sidekick....Buddy. He's an 11 month old, 86 lb (the last time I weighed him) German Shepherd. Vernon said if he ever got another German Shepherd, he'd name him Buddy...well, we've got one.

He keeps me pretty busy. He's like a 2 yr old....into everything, teething and re-landscaping parts of my yard. He's good company though.

I took him over to visit with the grandkids today. It took the little ones a bit to warm up to him since he's so big. They enjoyed him once he settled down.

I'm anxious now for the weather to warm up so we can spend more time outdoors, and to get back to my hobbies....lampwork, jewelry making and scrapbooking....more on those in future blogs. Later...

Lampwork

So, here are a couple of my lampworked beads. The process to create a bead.....with a torch, melt glass around a mandrel (dipped in a bead release), rotate to shape, heat, rotate, shape, heat, finish, anneal in a kiln. Sometimes, you just don't know what you're going to get until it comes out of the kiln.

Here's a link on youtube to see what I'm talking about....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtmR8Ib5z2s&feature=related

Trying Something New

This was inspired by my brother's first blog page. I've never done a blog before either, so here goes.

Each day is a gift from God. That's why they call it the Present.

I especially learned that after the passing of my father last year and through the loss of my husband 2 months ago. Though bittersweet, blessings continue.

I lean on Psalms 121; A song of ascents:

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.